Mossad chief Meir Degan said Monday that the specter of nuclear weaponry in Iran was the greatest threat that Israel has faced since its founding in 1948. Degan said Iranian nuclear arms posed a "threat to the mere existence of the state of Israel".

Appearing before the Israeli parliament foreign affairs and defense committee for the first time since assuming his post, Degan said that Tehran was close to the "point of no return" in developing nuclear weapons.

Degan also called on the international community to exert their efforts to foil Tehran's nuclear capabilities. According to Degan, the Mossad believes Iran is very eager to produce nuclear weapons, despite the public gestures it has offered to the UN and to the Europeans.

In addition, Degan cited as threats to Israel, Tehran's support for "terrorist organizations" such as Hamas, the Islamic Jihad, and Hizbullah, as well as the missiles that Palestinian activists have deployed in southern Lebanon.